Order of Exercises

School of Health Sciences

Trumpet Prelude and Processional

Pomp and Circumstance, Sir Edward Elgar

Call to Commencement

Debra J. Liebowitz, PhD
Provost

National Anthem

Delaney Grady ’26

Greetings

Marie C. Hardin, PhD
President

Class of 2026 Student Speakers

• Undergraduate: Sofia Nicole Konkolics

• Graduate: Abigail Lambert

Introduction of Commencement Speaker

Sara MacDonough-Civitello
Senior Associate Athletic Trainer

Commencement Address

Michael Papale ’11
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, In a Heartbeat Foundation

Presentation of Candidates for Degrees and Awards

Trenton Honda, PhD
Dean

Conferral of Degrees

Marie C. Hardin

Alumni Welcome

Sophia Marshall ’21
Alumni Association Board

Recessional

Mike Papale ’11

Founder and CEO, In A Heartbeat Foundation

School of Health Sciences Commencement | Sunday, May 10, 4 p.m.

Mike Papale is the founder and president of the “In A Heartbeat Foundation,” a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent death from sudden cardiac arrest and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by raising awareness, enabling research and donating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to places that need them.

Papale knows firsthand how 10 minutes can alter a lifetime. He experienced cardiac arrest when he was just 17 years old because of undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He likely would have lost his life if a nearby EMT had not immediately administered CPR.

Inspired by his experience, Papale founded “In A Heartbeat” in 2015 to raise awareness around hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac arrest among children. Since its founding, the nonprofit has run an AED donation program and organized early-detection events for children and their parents. “In A Heartbeat” also raises money for research projects that focus on sudden cardiac arrest.

After graduating from Quinnipiac in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in communications, Papale served several years as a college basketball coach at UMass-Lowell, Quinnipiac and Southern Connecticut State University before channeling his transformative journey into the pages of his book, “A Big Heart.”

Mace and Medallion

The mace — a symbol of authority — has antecedents in both Roman and Medieval history. The Roman mace (fasces) was carried by a lictor before the chief magistrate of the city, as well as before the legions. During the Middle Ages, the mace (mateola), a weapon of war, became first a symbol of victory and then a symbol of authority. The mace emblazoned with the Great Seal of England became a symbol of authority in Parliament by the end of the 13th century. It is this form of the mace that was the prototype of those symbols of authority, not only of legislative bodies, but also of cities and universities.

In 1246, following some 20 years of strife, the University of Paris was finally conceded the right to its own common seal. Since then, the use of the seal engraved on the mace has come to symbolize the authority of the academic community. In July 2000, Quinnipiac commissioned the noted sculptor Robert Meyer of Westport, Connecticut, to design and execute a new mace for Quinnipiac University. Cast in bronze, the mace incorporates elements of the university seal.

The medallion (medal of office), like the mace and the seal, is also a symbol of authority. It is possible that its roots may be traced back to the Roman “bulla” (a gold amulet of honor). The obverse of the medallion shows the seal of the office the wearer holds — in our case, the seal of the university. Not infrequently, the reverse would show the personal seal or coat of arms of the bearer. Since the High Middle Ages, the medallion has been worn by such officials as the chancellors of England, mayors of cities, and rectors of universities, and came to signify the high personal position such figures occupied in their respective governments. During the Renaissance, medallion design reached unique artistic heights, and in certain portraits the medallion was given particular prominence. The medallion is worn by the university’s president. The Quinnipiac medal showcases the university seal, sculpted in relief and cast in bronze.

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

The 12th and 13th centuries saw the formation of universities under the jurisdiction of the Church. Most students of the day were clerks in the Holy Order, monks or priests. Cowls or hoods adorned their habits and protected the young scholars from harsh weather and the pervading dampness of the stone buildings in which they studied. Hoods also served to cover tonsured heads before the use of the skullcap.

Today, the cap, gown and hood have taken on a symbolic meaning. Color and shape conform to an academic code signifying a university’s conferral of the degree and the nature of the degree conferred. Gowns for the doctoral degree carry velvet panels and three horizontal velvet bars on the upper arm of the full, round, bell-shaped sleeves.